Layayoga: The Definitive Guide to the Chakras and Kundalini (52 page)

Above is the swadhishthana with six petals of lustrous red. On the petals are the letters bo, bha, ma, ya ra, la, ornamented with filaments. There lies the watery waruna-bija (that is, the ‘water’-germ mantra ‘Wang’) and above it is a triangle where is situated the great liṅga in the form of Wishnu. Power Rakini as a door-keeper is also there.

Above it is the manipura which has ten petals of a shining dark-blue (nila) colour. On the petals are the letters from da to pha. There lies the wahni-bija (‘fire’-germ mantra ‘Rang’) in the triangle (which is inside the pericarp of the lotus) where is also Rudra-liṅga (liṅga in the form of Rudra) with six faces. In this chakra is situated Power Lakini as a door-keeper.

Above it is the anahata having twelve petals of yellow colour with the letters from ka to
tha
which are decorated with filaments. There is a triangle where is situated Bana-liṅga named Ishwara. There are also wayu-bija (‘air’-germ mantra ‘Yang’) and jiwa (embodied being like the flame of a lamp and in the form of hangsah (that is, living). Here lies Power Kakini as the door-keeper.

Above it is the lotus wishuddha which has sixteen smoke-coloured, or sky-coloured (blue), petals. On the petals are the sixteen vowels (the letters from a to
ah
), decorated with filaments. There is a beautiful triangle (in the pericarp) where is situated Sadashiwa, and also Power Shakini as the door-keeper.

Above it is the ajña chakra which is without any principles of matter (shunya) and is the seat of mind. It has two petals of variegated (or white) colour on which are (the letters) ha and ksha. Here is situated the liṅga named Itara.

In the ‘earth’-region (muladhara) lies the Power of Brahma; in the ‘water’-region (swadhishthana) is Narayani (the Power of Wishnu); in the ‘fire’-region (manipura) is the Power Waishnawi; in the ‘air’-region (anahata) is Ishwari (the Power of Ishwara); in the ‘void’-region (wishuddha) is Sadashiwa himself; and in the seat of mind (ajña) is the Itara-power.

Above it (ajña) is indu (that is, indu chakra, also known as soma chakra) which is situated in the region of the forehead (lalatadesha). Above it (indu chakra) is the nada in the form of half-moon. Above it (nada) is the shining mahanada which is in the form of a plough. Above it (mahanada) is the kala termed Añji, and above it is unmani. At the end of the kundalirandhra-kanda (that is, the nadi wajra, and, consequently, sushumna nadi; in other words where the sushumna ends), there is the twelve-lettered (twelve-petalled) lotus (dwadasharna) shining white in colour, where Guru is (this is called guru chakra). This chakra stands with its face upwards, being covered on the top by the lotus with 1000 petals of white colour mixed with red (rose or pink). There is a triangle (in the guru chakra) formed of three lines named
a
, ka and tha, and decorated with the letters ha, la, ksha (situated in the three corners) (—Sammohanatantra, Part 2, ch. 2, abridged).

System F

In the perineal region and in relation to the kanda is situated the adhara (muladhara) lotus. It has four petals and on the petals are 4 letters from wa to sa. This lotus is called kula (because of the seat of Kundalini). Inside the lotus are Swayambhu-liṅga and (Power) Dakini as the presiding Divinity. There is a triangle within the lotus where lies Kundalini. Above it is the quivering kama-bija (the desire-germ mantra ‘Kling’), radiating light.

The second lotus which is called swadhishthana is situated in the genital region. It has six petals of red colour, and on the petals are the six letters from ba to la. The presiding Divinity is Rakini.

The third lotus which is called manipuraka is situated in the navel region. It has 10 petals of golden colour which are decorated with the letters from
da
to pha. The presiding Divinity is Lakini.

The fourth lotus is anahata, situated in the heart region. It has twelve petals of deep red which are decorated with the letters from ka to
tha
. Here is the wayu-bija (the ‘air’-germ mantra ‘Yang’). In this lotus is situated the lustrous Bana-liṅga. The presiding Divinity of the chakra is Kakini.

The fifth lotus is the wishuddha which is situated in the throat region. It has sixteen petals of smoke colour, and on the petals are the sixteen vowels (from
a
to
ah
). The presiding Divinity is Shakini.

In the eyebrow region is the ajña lotus with two petals of white colour which are decorated with (the letters) ha and ksha. The presiding Divinity is Hakini. Here is moon-like akshara-bija (Ong) which is Parama-hangsah (Supreme Being).

Above the ajña are three pithas (seats; here chakras, or auxiliary chakras), bindu, nada and shakti, situated (one upon the other) in the forehead region.

Above the three pithas, but outside the physical body (that is, cranium) is the brilliant lotus sahasrara (that is, the sahasrara is situated outside the cranium where the sushumna nadi ends). The sahasrara is also called kailasa where lies Mahesha (Supreme Shiwa) who is known as akula (Parama Shiwa—Supreme Consciousness—into which kula—Kundalini—has been absorbed)—the eternal, the immutable. Here, Kundalini-power named kula becomes absorbed (into Parama Shiwa) (—Shiwasanghita, 5. 80–205, abridged).

2 The chakra system as expounded by Bhairawi

The great lotus muladhara has four petals of red colour on which are the letters from wa to sa of golden colour. Here (in the pericarp) is the kshiti-mandala (the ‘earth’-region). In the muladhara, there is a triangle (inside the ‘earth’-region) which is in the nature of will-knowledge-action. Inside the triangle is Swayambhu-liṅga shining like ten-million suns. Above it is the kama-bija, and above that is the divine Kundalini in the form of a flame.

Above it is the shining swadhishthana which has six petals of red colour. On the petals are the six letters from ba to la which are like diamonds (shining white). (Power) Rakini and (Deity) Wishnu are situated in the pericarp. This lotus is situated in the genital region and is pervaded by the kandarpa wayu (an aspect of the apana power which radiates love-desires).

Above it is the ten-petalled manipura, shining like ten-million gems. It is situated in the navel region. The lotus (that is, its petals) is like cloud (that is black in colour). On the petals are the lightning-like letters from
da
to pha. Here (in the pericarp of the lotus) lies (Deity) Rudra with (Power) Lakini.

Above it is the anahata lotus, situated in the heart region. It has twelve petals of red colour like the rising sun, or the colour of the bandhuka flower (Pentapoetes Phoenicea), that is, deep red. On the petals are the letters from ka to
tha
. Here (in the pericarp) are (Deity) Ishwara and (Power) Kakini. Inside it is Bana-liṅga shining like ten-thousand suns. The anahata is in the nature of Shabdabrahman which is realized here.

Above it is the sixteen-petalled lotus of smoke colour termed wishuddha, and on the petals are the sixteen vowels from
a
to
ah
of the colour of lightning. The lotus is situated in the throat region. It is the seat of akasha (that is, the ‘void’-region). Here are situated (Deity) Sadashiwa and (Power) Shakini. This lotus is called wishuddha (which causes purification), because here the embodied being becomes purified through the realization of Hangsah (Supreme Being).

Above it is the ajña chakra situated in the eyebrow region. It has two petals of white colour. On the petals are the letters la and ksha with bindu. Here are the seats of hangsah and bindu. The transference of divine knowledge (Guru’s ajña) occurs here, so it is called ajña.

Above ajña is what is called kailasa (chakra), and above kailasa is bodhana (chakra). Above the bodhana is the great white lotus sahasrara. It is the seat of Bindu. (—Rudrayamala, Part 2, 22. 2–13; 27. 53–70, abridged).

3 The chakra system as explained by Rishi Narada

The lotus termed muladhara has four petals of red colour on which are (the letters) wa, sha,
sha
, sa of golden colour. Inside the muladhara is a triangle which is in the nature of will-knowledge-action. Inside the triangle is Swayambhu-liṅga, shining like ten million suns. Above it is the kama-bija with kala-bindu-nada (Kling). Above it is Kundalini brilliant like a flame. Kundali is shyama (that is black or deep green in colour), and is in the nature of Krishna (Supreme Being). She is established in Krishna.

Above it is the swadhishthana which has six petals of red colour, and on the petals are the six letters from ba to la, shining like diamonds.

Above it is the lustrous manipura, situated in the navel region. It has 10 petals of smoke colour. This lotus is like gems, so it is called manipura.

Above it is the lotus termed wishuddha which has sixteen petals. Above that is the ajña chakra. Above ajña is kailasa (chakra), and above the latter is bodhini (chakra). Above bodhini is sahasrara where lies the seat of Bindu (-Goutamiyatantra, 34.40–54, abridged).

4 The chakra system as explained by Mahidhara

The muladhara has four petals which are decorated with the letters from wa to sa. Inside it is situated (Deity) Brahma with (Power) Dakini.

The chakra named swadhishthana is situated in the genital region. It has six petals decorated with the letters from ba to la. Here is (Deity) Wishnu with (Power) Rakini.

The manipuraka chakra has ten petals on which are the letters from
da
to pha; it is situated in the navel region. Here are (Deity) Rudra and (Power) Lakini.

The anahata, which is in the heart region, has twelve petals on which are the letters from ka to tha. Here are situated (Deity) Ishwara and (Power) Kakini.

The wishuddha is situated in the throat region. It has sixteen petals on which are sixteen vowels (from
a
to
ah
). In this lotus are (Deity) Sadashiwa and (Power) Shakini.

The ajña chakra is situated in the eyebrow region, and the letters la and ksha are (on its two petals). Here lies (Deity) Parashiwa with (Power) Hakini (—Mantramahodadhi, 4. 19–25, abridged).

5 The chakra system as explained by Brahmananda

At the root of the vertebral column (that is, at the lowest point of the sushumna nadi which is within the vertebral column) lies the lotus called muladhara. It has four petals of deep red colour. Inside the pericarp of the lotus is a triangle. Within the triangle is Swayambhu-liṅga of golden colour and in the form of bindu (supremely concentrated form which has no magnitude but only position). He is with Power Kakini. Supreme Kundali is in three and a half coils around the great liṅga.

The six-petalled lotus (named swadhishthana) is of whitish-red (raktapandara) colour. Inside it is a liṅga of whitish-red colour and with Power Hakini.

In the navel region is situated the eight-petalled lotus (manipura) like a new cloud (that is, black in colour). Here is a liṅga endowed with the power of absorbing the universe, and it is with Power Shakini.

There is a lotus (anahata) in the heart region with sixteen petals of white colour. Here is the great Maheshwara-liṅga with Power Lakini.

Thereafter is the great lotus (wishuddha) with the ten petals of dark-blue colour. There is a great liṅga named Kama lying with his Power.

In the forehead region is the two-petalled lotus (ajña) where is situated Brahma-liṅga with the Power.

Above the topmost point of the sushumna nadi, which is inside the vertebral column, is the twelve-petalled lotus (guru chakra) where lies a triangle which is in the nature of Brahma-Wishnu-Shiwa, and above it is the sahasrara lying with its face downward. Here (in the sahasrara) is situated Parama Shiwa who is Brahman (Supreme Consciousness). Guru (who is in the twelve-petalled chakra) is in the divine form and in the nature of mantra (—Tararahasya, ch. 4, abridged).

6 The chakra system as explained by Jñanananda

There is a lotus (muladhara) with four petals of golden colour in the perineal region, which are decorated with (the letters from) wa to sa, shining like gold. Here lies (Power) Dakini of red or white colour, three-eyed, and with fierce teeth, holding (in her two right hands) a shula (trident) and a khatwaṅga (a staff with a human skull at its top), and in her two left hands a khadga (sword) and a surakumbha (wine-pot). In the pericarp of the lotus is a triangle called kamakhya. Inside the triangle is kandarpa, an aspect of the apana (-power). Within the triangle is also Swayambhu-liṅga with his head downward, who is shining red and roving. There is the Kundali-power in eight coils around Swayambhu-liṅga.

The great lotus adhishthana (swadhishthana) is situated in the genital region. It is deep red and is decorated with the letters from ba to la of the colour of vermilion (on its six petals). Here lies (Power) Rakini who is of the colour of dark blue (shyama), holding in her hands a shala (trident), a wajra (thunderbolt), a padma (lotus) and a damaru (drum).

In the navel region is the manipura lotus of ten petals of the colour of deep blue (nila) on which are the letters from da to pha of the colour of lightning. Here is the ‘fire’-region where is situated (Power) Lakini.

In the heart region is the anahata of twelve petals of the colour of mixed blue and yellow, or like the flame of a lamp (piṅgabha) with the letters from ka to
tha
of red colour.

In the eyebrow region is the lotus (ajña) shining like ten million lightnings which is the seat of mind. It has two petals with the bright letters (ha and ksha). Inside the triangle (which is situated in the pericarp of the chakra) abides Itara-liṅga the red colour (taruna aruna—the newly risen sun). Here is situated (Power) Hakini who is white in colour and three-eyed, and holds in her hands an akshamala (a rosary of rudraksha = Eleocarpus Ganitrus), a damaru (drum), a kapala (skull) and a pustaka (book), a chapa bow) and mudra (the gesture of granting boons). Within the lotus is situated the Inner-Atman (Supreme Being) bright with ongkara-light.

Then comes the sahasrara lotus standing with its head downwards. It is also called kailasa (—Koulawalitantra, ch. 2, abridged).